Step 3 is to search for providers.
The path to empowerment requires work and commitment. Once you believe that patient empowerment is critical and requires a change in mindset and responsibility (Step One) and you have found a mentor that has your condition or illness (Step Two), the next step is to convince your physician that you want to be empowered and that you can be trusted - that's right - TRUSTED with managing your care!
Most of the physicians that I have met, and worked with, truly believe in the patient voice and have focused their careers on providing endless support for their patients. This is not true of all doctors, but is true of the majority. This means that finding a doctor to support your own personal healthcare empowerment should NOT be too difficult.
What is difficult, however, is doing the work to convince your doctors that you are serious about your care and that you are motivated to manage it effectively. I know that this sounds trite, but not everyone does what is best for them...if you do not believe me, then just look at all the smokers out there!
This is not to minimize the effort in finding a doctor that you connect with. There is really nothing better than having a good heart-to-heart discussion with your physician where both of you can be honest and work together openly.
If this is not the case, then finding another doctor may still be critical even though your doctor believes in patient empowerment. Sometimes their definition is just not the same as yours and some times it is just a personality issue.
Whatever the case, do not rest until you are extremely comfortable with your physician - in fact, all of your care providers!
Doctors that care about their patients use email to encourage communications. Routine email is not HIPAA compliant, but there on line services such as www.housedoc.us, that are private and secure, free, and easy to use.
Posted by: Housedoc | April 20, 2009 at 07:17 PM